Ramble, Reset, Repeat

I happened to sit down at my Mac and start this post on a weekday, Tuesday the 10th of February to be exact. Not that it should matter to anyone reading this, but to me, it does. Typically, I write on the weekends. I might take notes or jot down outlines during the week, but the final assembly has normally taken place on a Sunday morning, usually around the time I’m consuming my third cup of hot coffee.

Oddly enough, Sunday also happens to be the only day of the week that I brew coffee and drink not one, but three cups of it hot. Any other time of the week, if it’s my choice, I drink cold brew or something iced. One to two cups, max. It can be below freezing outside, literally sub-zero temps, and I’ll still scoff at the idea of hot coffee. Maybe that’s because I’m impatient and have, on more than one occasion, burned myself with coffee that was too hot and subsequently wrecked my palate (see my first Southbound to Corpus post for an example). So, to avoid not being able to taste things, I like my coffee cold and my caffeine hit sooner rather than later.

On that note, I realize I’ve already gone off on a random sidebar. So, let’s correct course and get back on topic, which is writing during the week. At least, I think that’s the topic. It is at this point anyway.

If you’ve read the last few posts, you know I’ve been very upset with myself in regard to the tempo in which I not only create content, but also share it. When I did feel compelled to write, it felt like obligation to an extent, not desire. However, sitting down to write this entry, I realized I’ve moved well beyond that feeling of obligation. I’m now sitting down to write and share my thoughts because I’m enjoying the process again.

I can’t really describe that feeling yet. It’s great, and truthfully, I’m beyond words. Rather than resorting to my normal tempo and outline, I deviated because I felt inspired and started hammering away at my keyboard. It feels like a giant sense of accomplishment, relief, and joy all at once.

The reason I can make that statement is because today, the 10th, was hands down one of the toughest days I’ve had in my career. I’ll spare you the details, as I work very hard to keep my day-to-day job separate from this project. With that said, rather than doing nothing and saying it was because of “adulting,” here I am, sitting at my desk, typing away. Feeling joy and a good sense of escapism. Feeling a sense of calm, and a sense of growth.

I haven’t, in a very long time, sat down to write something at random with little semblance of an outline. Honestly, this entire post, story, or whatever you want to call it stemmed from a random conversation I had this morning on my drive into work with a really good friend of mine. I made a note of it, but didn’t intend to execute until this coming weekend. Yet here I am, noticing I had idle time and actually feeling drawn to write. I dig it. Honestly, despite feeling weird about finding a spark again, I really, really enjoy it.

Hopefully that continues. At this stage in my life, I can’t afford to let creative outlets atrophy. If I do, the repercussions will be less than ideal, and I really don’t want to see what that looks like for me. I’ve rediscovered something that brings me joy, has the potential to entertain others, or piss them off, and I don’t feel like I can let that go.

Anyway, yet again, I ramble. It’s as if I should put that in the tagline for my journal page. Oh wait, I did.

I guess since we’re on the topic of things I enjoy, and largely because I’m finding it difficult to segue out of the word vomit I’ve presented so far, we’ll move on to snow. Specifically, snow in Texas, and cold weather in general. Seems like a completely logical topic switch, right?

Like my coffee, which I enjoy cold, I actually love snow and cold weather. That might make sense for someone who grew up in Utah, Colorado, or some other winter-heavy state where snow grows, but I am a born-and-bred Texan. Cold weather should be an allergy to me, but it isn’t. Thankfully cedar isn’t either, somehow. When cold weather hits, specifically snow, I freaking salivate. Not really, but I do get super excited (see my post about Winter Storm Uri).

The thought of a snow day makes me physically giddy. I have no idea why, but it does. Again, I’m weird. When I was at RTC in Great Lakes, I volunteered for snow watch and was outside shoveling sidewalks in sub-zero temps. It was, even in hindsight, awesome.

So, with that said, anytime we get to experience snow in the Hill Country, I get a dopamine hit that keeps me going for days. This post, now that I’m far enough into whatever this entry is, just so happens to be about a snow day.

Last year, and man, I truly do love being able to refer to “just last year,” we had roughly two days of snow. It was nowhere near Winter Storm Uri levels of 2021, but it was enough for me to have a freaking field day outside. I also may or may not have been able to stay home. Double win.

Overall, I’d say we got a dusting. Nothing major by any stretch, even for the Texas Hill Country, but enough for me to act like a dang Toys “R” Us kid and spend as much time outside as possible. One bummer, though, unlike Uri, was that the internet stayed active. So even though I was home, I still had to work. I guess the tradeoff was that I could stay in a hoodie and hang out with my kiddos. That definitely trumps everything else.

On that note, that’s all I’ve got. I originally set out to do an outline, and here I am wrapping everything up in one go. I can’t promise everything will be like this, as great as that would be, but I’ll certainly take my wins where and when I can.

Until next time. Enjoy!
—Tyler